Initiation Panel – Mimika Region, West Papua (circa 1980s) This compelling initiation panel originates from the Mimika region of West Papua and dates to the 1980s. Such panels played an important role in initiation rites, marking the transition from youth to adulthood within the community. Carved and painted in a bold, expressive style, the panel embodies key spiritual and cultural concepts central to Mimika life. The imagery reflects ancestral presence, transformation, and the transmission of knowledge across generations. During initiation ceremonies, objects like this panel would have formed part of a larger ritual setting, guiding initiates through a symbolic passage into maturity and social responsibility. The surface shows signs of age and use, contributing to its authenticity and cultural depth. The artistic language—at once abstract and deeply meaningful—captures the intimate relationship between the Mimika people, their ancestors, and the natural world. A significant ethnographic object, this initiation panel stands as both a powerful visual statement and a testament to enduring ceremonial traditions in West Papua. We pack securely sending worldwide Alongside my passion for these unique cultural objects, I recently published my book Ik droomde dat je kwam, in which I describe personal encounters and experiences in Papua. The spirit of objects like this necklace lives on in those stories. Little damage, needs some resauration Sold by Koos Knol, ethnographer and anthropologist, dealer of Papua Tribal Art for more than 30 years, NIEUWSTE BOEK VAN KOOS KNOL ‘Ik droomde dat je kwam’ Een prachtig en meeslepend boek vol verhalen over Papua, met een bijzondere mix van avontuur, cultuur en persoonlijke ontmoetingen. De auteur neemt je mee van Raja Ampat tot de Asmat, van Yapen tot de Vogelkop, in een warme en levendige vertelstijl. Inclusief fotokatern van Roy Villevoye. Prijs: €22,95 Gesigneerd exemplaar Kan worden meegezonden met de verzending, dus geen extra verzendkosten. Wordt het niet meegezonden, dan komt er €4,- bij. Google: Papua Blues en Ik droomde dat je kwam ( Uitgeverij Noordboek in Gorredijk.